Victims Identified In Fatal Crash Involving Snow Plow

Wabasha, MN (KROC AM News) - The Minnesota State Patrol has confirmed that one person is dead and other person suffered life-threatening injuries after a crash on Highway 61 in Wabasha involving a MnDOT snow plow.

The Minnesota State Patrol has identified the driver of the Ford as 22-year-old Fransisco Ortega of Chicago and the passenger as 26-year-old Enrique Castro of North Liberty, Iowa. Castro died in the wreck and Ortega suffered life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the MnDOT snow plow, 40-year-old Jason Vanputten of Rochester, was not injured in the crash.

The crash occurred Tuesday night around 7:30 when the Ford was westbound on Highway 60 and turned in front of the plow that was headed south on Highway 61. The snow plow then struck the Ford. Road conditions were described as covered with snow and ice at the time of the incident but it’s not known if that was a factor in the wreck.News Update: Trial For Former Rochester School District Worker Rescheduled